U.S. patent number 11,287,190 [Application Number 16/738,843] was granted by the patent office on 2022-03-29 for spiral heat exchanger.
This patent grant is currently assigned to SUBARU CORPORATION. The grantee listed for this patent is SUBARU CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Wataru Kato.
United States Patent |
11,287,190 |
Kato |
March 29, 2022 |
Spiral heat exchanger
Abstract
A spiral heat exchanger includes a spiral unit, a case member,
and a bracket. The spiral unit includes thin metal plates. The thin
metal plates are spaced away from each other and spirally wound.
The thin metal plates define flow paths. A portion or all of the
flow paths are provided with a coolant flowing therein. The case
member is attached to a vehicle and contains the spiral unit. The
bracket is fixed to the case member and holds the spiral unit. The
bracket includes a holding portion and a fixed portion. The holding
portion holds a first end, a second end, or both of the spiral unit
in an axial direction. The fixed portion is disposed between an
outer peripheral surface of the spiral unit and an inner peripheral
surface of the case member. The fixed portion is fixed to the inner
peripheral surface of the case member.
Inventors: |
Kato; Wataru (Tokyo,
JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SUBARU CORPORATION |
Tokyo |
N/A |
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
SUBARU CORPORATION (Tokyo,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
72333844 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/738,843 |
Filed: |
January 9, 2020 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20200300552 A1 |
Sep 24, 2020 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
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Mar 20, 2019 [JP] |
|
|
JP2019-053120 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D
7/04 (20130101); F28D 9/04 (20130101); B60K
11/04 (20130101); F28D 9/0081 (20130101); F01N
2240/02 (20130101); F28F 2225/04 (20130101); B60L
50/10 (20190201); F28D 2021/008 (20130101); F01N
5/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F28D
9/04 (20060101); F28D 9/00 (20060101); F01N
5/02 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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202016003318 |
|
Jun 2016 |
|
DE |
|
102016216430 |
|
Mar 2018 |
|
DE |
|
2423630 |
|
Feb 2012 |
|
EP |
|
2811068 |
|
Jan 2002 |
|
FR |
|
2001-099491 |
|
Apr 2001 |
|
JP |
|
WO-2018198781 |
|
Nov 2018 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
FR-2811068--Machine English translation (Year: 2002). cited by
examiner .
DE-202016003318--Machine English translation (Year: 2016). cited by
examiner .
WO-2018198781--English abstract (Year: 2018). cited by examiner
.
EP-2423630--Machine English translation (Year: 2012). cited by
examiner .
DE-102016216430--Machine English translation (Year: 2018). cited by
examiner.
|
Primary Examiner: Alvare; Paul
Assistant Examiner: Glass-Quinones; Jose O
Attorney, Agent or Firm: McGinn I.P. Law Group, PLLC.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A spiral heat exchanger comprising: a spiral unit that includes
two or more metal plates, the metal plates being spaced away from
each other and spirally wound, the metal plates defining two or
more flow paths, a portion or all of the flow paths being provided
with a coolant flowing in the corresponding portion or all of the
flow paths; a case member that is attached to a vehicle and
contains the spiral unit; and at least one bracket that is fixed to
the case member and holds the spiral unit, the at least one bracket
including a holding portion that holds a first end, a second end,
or both of the spiral unit in an axial direction of the spiral
unit, and a fixed portion that is disposed between an outer
peripheral surface of the spiral unit and an inner peripheral
surface of the case member, the fixed portion being fixed to the
inner peripheral surface of the case member, wherein the at least
one bracket extends in the axial direction from the first end of
the spiral unit to the second end of the spiral unit.
2. The spiral heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the
holding portion includes a first portion that holds the first end
of the spiral unit, and a second portion that holds the second end
of the spiral unit.
3. The spiral heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the
fixed portion is spaced away from the outer peripheral surface of
the spiral unit.
4. The spiral heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the
metal plates each includes two or more turns by being spirally
wound, and the holding portion holds each of the two or more turns
of each of the metal plates of the spiral unit.
5. The spiral heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one bracket comprises two or more brackets, and the two or
more brackets are spaced away from each other in a circumferential
direction of the spiral unit.
6. The spiral heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one bracket comprises a single uniform continuous member that
holds the first end, the second end, or both of the spiral unit in
the axial direction of the spiral unit, and wherein the metal
plates comprise thin metal plates.
7. The spiral heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the
fixed portion extends in the axial direction from the first end of
the spiral unit to the second end of the spiral unit, the first
portion of the holding portion extends from a first end, in the
axial direction, of the fixed portion toward an inner side of the
case member, and the second portion of the holding portion extends
from a second end, in the axial direction, of the fixed portion
toward the inner side of the case member.
8. The spiral heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the
fixed portion is spaced away from the outer peripheral surface of
the spiral unit.
9. The spiral heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the
metal plates each includes two or more turns by being spirally
wound, and the holding portion holds each of the two or more turns
of each of the metal plates of the spiral unit.
10. The spiral heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the at
least one bracket comprises two or more brackets, and the two or
more brackets are spaced away from each other in a circumferential
direction of the spiral unit.
11. The spiral heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the
metal plates each includes two or more turns by being spirally
wound, and the holding portion holds each of the two or more turns
of each of the metal plates of the spiral unit.
12. The spiral heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the at
least one bracket comprises two or more brackets, and the two or
more brackets are spaced away from each other in a circumferential
direction of the spiral unit.
13. The spiral heat exchanger according to claim 7, wherein the
fixed portion is spaced away from the outer peripheral surface of
the spiral unit.
14. The spiral heat exchanger according to claim 7, wherein the
metal plates each includes two or more turns by being spirally
wound, and the holding portion holds each of the two or more turns
of each of the metal plates of the spiral unit.
15. The spiral heat exchanger according to claim 7, wherein the at
least one bracket comprises two or more brackets, and the two or
more brackets are spaced away from each other in a circumferential
direction of the spiral unit.
16. The spiral heat exchanger according to claim 13, wherein the
metal plates each includes two or more turns by being spirally
wound, and the holding portion holds each of the two or more turns
of each of the metal plates of the spiral unit.
17. The spiral heat exchanger according to claim 13, wherein the at
least one bracket comprises two or more brackets, and the two or
more brackets are spaced away from each other in a circumferential
direction of the spiral unit.
18. The spiral heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein the
metal plates each includes two or more turns by being spirally
wound, and the holding portion holds each of the two or more turns
of each of the metal plates of the spiral unit.
19. The spiral heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein the at
least one bracket comprises two or more brackets, and the two or
more brackets are spaced away from each other in a circumferential
direction of the spiral unit.
20. A spiral heat exchanger comprising: a spiral unit that includes
two or more metal plates, the metal plates being spaced away from
each other and spirally wound, the metal plates defining two or
more flow paths, a portion or all of the flow paths being provided
with a coolant flowing in the corresponding portion or all of the
flow paths; a case member that is attached to a vehicle and
contains the spiral unit; and at least one bracket that is fixed to
the case member and holds the spiral unit, the at least one bracket
including a holding portion that holds the spiral unit in an axial
direction of the spiral unit, and a fixed portion that is disposed
between an outer peripheral surface of the spiral unit and an inner
peripheral surface of the case member; the fixed portion being
fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the case member, wherein
the holding portion includes a first portion that holds a first end
of the spiral unit, and a second portion that holds a second end of
the spiral unit, wherein the fixed portion extends in the axial
direction from the first end of the spiral unit to the second end
of the spiral unit, wherein the first portion of the holding
portion extends from a first end, in the axial direction of the
fixed portion toward an inner side of the case member, and the
second portion of the holding portion extends from a second end, in
the axial direction, of the fixed portion toward the inner side of
the case member.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent
Application No. 2019-053120 filed on Mar. 20, 2019, the entire
contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
The technology relates to a spiral heat exchanger.
In a facility such as a factory, various heat exchangers have been
used, for example, in order to cool a fluid or for any other
purpose. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent
Application Publication No. 2001-099491, one type of the heat
exchanger includes two or more metal plates and a spiral unit. The
metal plates are spaced away from each other and are spirally
wound. The spiral unit has two or more flow paths defined by the
metal plates. Such a heat exchanger is also referred to as a spiral
heat exchanger, and has an advantage of its compact size compared
to other types of heat exchangers.
SUMMARY
An aspect of the technology provides a spiral heat exchanger that
includes a spiral unit, a case member, and a bracket. The spiral
unit includes two or more thin metal plates. The thin metal plates
are spaced away from each other and spirally wound. The thin metal
plates define two or more flow paths. A portion or all of the flow
paths are provided with a coolant flowing in the corresponding
portion or all of the flow paths. The case member is attached to a
vehicle and contains the spiral unit. The bracket is fixed to the
case member and holds the spiral unit. The bracket includes a
holding portion and a fixed portion. The holding portion holds a
first end, a second end, or both of the spiral unit in an axial
direction of the spiral unit. The fixed portion is disposed between
an outer peripheral surface of the spiral unit and an inner
peripheral surface of the case member. The fixed portion is fixed
to the inner peripheral surface of the case member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate
embodiments and, together with the specification, serve to explain
the principles of the disclosure.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an outline
configuration of a vehicle on which a spiral heat exchanger
according to one example embodiment of the technology is to be
mounted.
FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of an example of the spiral
heat exchanger according to the example embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a front cross-sectional view of an example of the spiral
heat exchanger according to the example embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In a case of applying a spiral heat exchanger to a vehicle, it can
be considered to reduce a thickness of a metal plate in a spiral
unit compared to that in an existing spiral heat exchanger used in
a facility such as a factory, in order to reduce a weight of the
vehicle. Providing the spiral unit including such a thin metal
plate, i.e., a metal plate having a thickness smaller than that in
the existing spiral heat exchanger, can make it easier for the
spiral unit to be damaged, for example, when the spiral unit is hit
by an object such as a stone on a road while the vehicle is
traveling on the road. In order to suppress damaging of the spiral
unit, it can be considered to contain the spiral unit in a case
member attached to the vehicle. It is, however, difficult to
contain the spiral unit in the case member in a state of being kept
in a desired shape since the spirally-wound thin metal plate is
easily deformed to an original state before being wounded, i.e.,
spring back easily occurs. A technique is therefore desired that
makes it possible to appropriately attach a spiral heat exchanger
to a vehicle while reducing a weight of the vehicle.
It is desirable to provide a new and improved spiral heat exchanger
that is appropriately attachable to a vehicle while allowing a
weight of the vehicle to be reduced.
In the following, some example embodiments of the technology are
described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that
the following description is directed to illustrative examples of
the disclosure and not to be construed as limiting the technology.
In each of the drawings referred to in the following description,
elements have different scales in order to illustrate the
respective elements with sizes recognizable in the drawings.
Therefore, factors including, without limitation, the number of
each of the elements, the shape of each of the elements, a size of
each of the elements, a ratio between the elements, and relative
positional relationship between the elements are illustrative only
and not to be construed as limiting to the technology. Further,
elements in the following example embodiments which are not recited
in a most-generic independent claim of the disclosure are optional
and may be provided on an as-needed basis. Throughout the present
specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the
same function and configuration are denoted with the same numerals
to avoid any redundant description.
A description is given below referring to an example where a spiral
heat exchanger is mounted on a vehicle in order to cool an exhaust
gas from a turbine engine; however, a spiral heat exchanger
according to one embodiment of the technology may be mounted on a
vehicle for any other application such as cooling of an exhaust gas
from a gasoline engine. Further, a vehicle 1 is described below as
an example of a vehicle on which the spiral heat exchanger is to be
mounted; however, a configuration of the vehicle on which the
spiral heat exchanger is to be mounted is not particularly limited
to the example below, as will be described later.
Herein, a traveling direction of a vehicle is referred to as a
front direction, and a direction opposite to the traveling
direction of the vehicle is referred to as a rear direction. A
direction toward the left with respect to the traveling direction
is referred to as a left direction, and a direction toward the
right with respect to the traveling direction is referred to as a
right direction. A vertically-upward direction with respect to the
traveling direction is referred to as an upper direction, and a
vertically-downward direction with respect to the traveling
direction is referred to as a lower direction.
1. Outline of Vehicle
Referring to FIG. 1, a description is given first of an outline of
the vehicle 1 on which a spiral heat exchanger 30 according to one
example embodiment of the technology is to be mounted.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an outline configuration of the
vehicle 1. In FIG. 1, a thick arrow schematically illustrates a
flow of air taken into a turbine engine 20 and a flow of a gas
exhausted from the turbine engine 20.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 may include, for example
but not limited to, the turbine engine 20, the spiral heat
exchanger 30, an electric power generator 70, a battery 80, and a
driving motor 90.
The vehicle 1 may be configured to travel with the use of the
driving motor 90 as a driving source. Electric power to be supplied
to the driving motor 90 may be stored in the battery 80. The
vehicle 1 may be configured to drive the electric power generator
70 with the use of motive power outputted from the turbine engine
20 and charge the battery 80 with the use of electric power
generated by the electric power generator 70. This increases a
traveling range of the vehicle 1. In a non-limiting example, the
turbine engine 20, the spiral heat exchanger 30, the electric power
generator 70, and the driving motor 90 may be disposed inside an
engine compartment 12, and the battery 80 may be disposed below a
vehicle compartment 11.
The electric power generator 70 may be coupled to a rotating shaft
of the turbine engine 20 with a member such as a gear or a chain in
between, for example. This allows motive power outputted from the
turbine engine 20 to be inputted to the electric power generator 70
via the member such as the gear or the chain.
The battery 80 may include, for example but not limited to, a
secondary battery such as a lithium-ion battery, a lithium-ion
polymer battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery, a nickel-cadmium
battery, or a lead-acid battery.
The driving motor 90 may include, for example but not limited to, a
polyphase motor such as a three-phase motor. The driving motor 90
may be coupled to the battery 80 with an unillustrated inverter in
between, and may generate motive power with the use of the electric
power stored in the battery 80.
The turbine engine 20 may be an internal combustion engine in which
a high-temperature and high-voltage gas generated as a result of
combustion so drives a turbine 24 that the turbine 24 rotates to
generate rotational energy.
In a specific but non-limiting example, a front end of the turbine
engine 20 may be provided with an air inlet 21. The turbine engine
20 may include a compressor 23 and the turbine 24 inside the
turbine engine 20. The compressor 23 and the turbine 24 may be
coupled to each other with a rotating shaft 22 in between. The
rotating shaft 22 may extend in a front-rear direction. The
compressor 23 may be fixed to front side of the rotating shaft 22
and the turbine 24 may be fixed to rear side of the rotating shaft
22.
In the turbine engine 20 described above, outside air may be taken
in from the air inlet 21 and compressed by the compressor 23. The
air thus having a high voltage and a fuel supplied from an
unillustrated fuel inlet may be mixed with each other to combust,
thereby generating a high-pressure and high-voltage gas. The
turbine 24 may be driven to rotate by the high-pressure and
high-voltage gas thus generated.
A rear end of the turbine engine 20 may be coupled to an exhaust
pipe 41. The gas that has passed through the turbine 24 may be sent
to the exhaust pipe 41. The exhaust pipe 41 may be coupled to the
spiral heat exchanger 30. The high-temperature gas exhausted from
the turbine engine 20 may therefore pass through the exhaust pipe
41 to be sent to the spiral heat exchanger 30.
The spiral heat exchanger 30 may be provided to cool the
high-temperature gas exhausted from the turbine engine 20 by means
of heat exchange. The spiral heat exchanger 30 may be coupled to an
exhaust pipe 42. The gas cooled by the spiral heat exchanger 30 by
means of heat exchange may be sent to the exhaust pipe 42. The gas
exhausted from the spiral heat exchanger 30 may pass through the
exhaust pipe 42 to be discharged to outside of the vehicle 1.
A structure of the spiral heat exchanger 30 in the vehicle 1 may be
devised to achieve appropriate attachment of the spiral heat
exchanger 30 to the vehicle 1. Details of such a spiral heat
exchanger 30 will be described later.
2. Details of Spiral Heat Exchanger
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a description is given next of the
details of the spiral heat exchanger 30 according to the example
embodiment of the technology.
FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the spiral heat exchanger
30. FIG. 3 is a front cross-sectional view of the spiral heat
exchanger 30, specifically, a cross-sectional view taken along a
line A-A in FIG. 2 that passes through the exhaust pipe 42.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the spiral heat exchanger 30
includes a spiral unit 31, a case member 32, and a bracket 33.
In the spiral heat exchanger 30, the case member 32 is attached to
the vehicle 1. The spiral unit 31 is contained in the case member
32. The spiral unit 31 may be attached to the case member 32 with
the bracket 33 in between.
The spiral unit 31 may achieve heat exchange between fluids.
The spiral unit 31 includes two or more thin metal plates that are
spaced away from each other and are spirally wound. In a specific
but non-limiting example, the thin metal plates may have a volute
shape with a curved line curving outward from the center when
viewed from a direction of a central axis. The thin metal plates
define two or more flow paths. A coolant flows in a portion or all
of the flow paths.
FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate an example in which an axial direction of
the spiral unit 31 coincide with the front-rear direction; however,
a posture of the spiral unit 31 in the spiral heat exchanger 30 is
not particularly limited to this example. A material included in
the thin metal plates included in the spiral unit 31 is not
particularly limited; however, the thin metal plates may each
include a material such as stainless steel or aluminum, for
example.
In a specific but non-limiting example, the thin metal plates
included in the spiral unit 31 may each have a thickness within a
range from 0.4 mm to 2.0 mm both inclusive. In contrast, a general
metal plate included in a spiral unit of a spiral heat exchanger to
be used in a facility such as a factory has a thickness greater
than 2.0 mm. In other words, the thin metal plates included in the
spiral unit 31 of the spiral heat exchanger 30 may each correspond
to a metal plate having a thickness smaller than that of the metal
plate included in the spiral unit of the existing spiral heat
exchanger. As described above, a spiral heat exchanger generally
has an advantage of its compact size compared to any other type of
heat exchanger. Therefore, application of the spiral heat exchanger
30 to the vehicle 1 as its heat exchanger helps reduction in weight
of the vehicle 1. Further, the use of the thin metal plates having
the thickness smaller than that of the metal plates included in the
spiral unit of the existing heat exchanger as the metal plates
included in the spiral unit 31 of the spiral heat exchanger 30
allows for more effective reduction in weight of the vehicle 1.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, in more detail, the spiral unit 31
may include two thin metal plates, i.e., a thin metal plate 311 and
a thin metal plate 312. The thin metal plate 311 and the thin metal
plate 312 are spaced away from each other and are spirally wound.
In the spiral unit 31, the thin metal plate 311 of the two thin
metal plates may be positioned on inner side compared to the thin
metal plate 312.
In the spiral unit 31, the thin metal plate 311 and the thin metal
plate 312 may be spirally would to provide two or more layers of
thin metal plates in a radial direction of the spiral unit 31. In
an example illustrated in FIG. 3, the spiral unit 31 basically has
four layers of thin metal plates; however, the spiral unit 31 also
has a portion with six layers of thin metal plates. Specifically,
the spiral unit 31 has six layers of thin metal plates in a
lower-left portion thereof in the example illustrated in FIG. 3. It
is to be noted that the number of layers of thin metal plates in
the spiral unit 31 is not particularly limited to that in the
example illustrated in FIG. 3.
In a process of manufacturing the spiral unit 31, first, the thin
metal plate 311 having a band-like shape and the thin metal plate
312 having a band-like shape may be overlaid on each other.
Thereafter, the thin metal plate 311 and the thin metal plate 312
overlaid on each other may be subjected to a bending process that
causes the thin metal plate 311 and the thin metal plate 312 to be
spirally wound around an axis extending in a width direction of the
thin metal plate 311 and the thin metal plate 312. As described
above, the spiral unit 31 of the spiral heat exchanger 30 may
include the thin metal plate 311 and the thin metal plate 312 that
each have a thickness smaller than that of the metal plates
included in the spiral unit of the existing spiral heat exchanger.
Therefore, it is easier for the thin metal plate 311 and the thin
metal plate 312 spirally wound to return to an original state
before being spirally wound. As will be described later, a first
end, a second end, or both of the spiral unit 31 of the spiral heat
exchanger 30 in the axial direction of the spiral unit 31 are
contained in the case member 32 while being held by the bracket 33.
This makes it possible to keep the spiral unit 31, contained in the
case member 32, in a desired shape.
In the spiral unit 31, the thin metal plate 311 and the thin metal
plate 312 that are spaced away from each other and spirally wound
define two flow paths, i.e., a flow path 51 and a flow path 52. The
flow path 51 may be a space between an outer peripheral surface of
the thin metal plate 311 and an inner peripheral surface of the
thin metal plate 312. In the flow path 51, a coolant may flow. The
flow path 52 may be a space between an outer peripheral surface of
the thin metal plate 312 and an inner peripheral surface of the
thin metal plate 311. In the flow path 52, a high-temperature gas
that is exhausted from the turbine engine 20 and sent to the flow
path 52 via the exhaust pipe 42 may flow. In the example
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a width L2 of the flow path 52 may be
greater than a width L1 of the flow path 51. The width L2 may be a
length of the flow path 52 in the radial direction of the spiral
unit 31. The width L1 may be a length of the flow path 51 in the
radial direction of the spiral unit 31.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the thin metal plate 311 and the thin
metal plate 312 may be coupled to each other at an end 318 and an
end 319 in a circumferential direction of the spiral unit 31. A gap
between the outer peripheral surface of the thin metal plate 311
and the inner peripheral surface of the thin metal plate 312 may be
thus closed in an entire region from a front end of the spiral unit
31 to a rear end of the spiral unit 31. It is to be noted that the
end 318 may correspond to an inner end of the two ends in the
circumferential direction of the spiral unit 31, and the end 319
may correspond to an outer end of the two ends in the
circumferential direction of the spiral unit 31. Further, as
illustrated in FIG. 2, the thin metal plate 311 and the thin metal
plate 312 may be coupled to each other at the front end and the
rear end of the spiral unit 31. A gap between the outer peripheral
surface of the thin metal plate 311 and the inner peripheral
surface of the thin metal plate 312 may be thus closed in an entire
region from the end 318 to the end 319 in the circumferential
direction of the spiral unit 31. The flow path 51 in which the
coolant flows may be therefore sealed. In more detail, a circuit
path in which the coolant circuits may be coupled to the flow path
51 described above, which causes the coolant circuiting in the
circuit path to be continuously supplied into the flow path 51.
The case member 32 is attached to the vehicle 1 and contains the
spiral unit 31.
A material of a thin metal plate of the case member 32 is not
particularly limited; however, the thin metal plate included in the
case member 32 may include a material such as stainless steel or
aluminum, for example.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, in more detail, the case member 32
may have an almost cylindrical shape. The spiral unit 31 may be so
contained inside the case member 32 that an axial direction of the
case member 32 coincides with the axial direction of the spiral
unit 31. In other words, in the example illustrated in FIGS. 2 and
3, the axial direction of the case member 32 may coincide with the
front-rear direction.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, an outer peripheral portion of the case
member 32 may be provided with an attachment portion 321 directed
to attachment of the case member 32 to the vehicle 1. The
attachment portion 321 may extend outward from the outer peripheral
portion of the case member 32. A tip of the attachment portion 321
may be fixed to a frame member 5 of the vehicle 1, for example, by
means of screw fastening or any other method. The case member 32
may be thereby attached to the vehicle 1. It is to be noted that a
shape of the frame member 5 and a position of the frame member 5 in
the vehicle 1 are not particularly limited.
The exhaust pipe 41 through which the gas exhausted from the
turbine engine 20 passes may be coupled to a middle portion of the
front end of the case member 32. The exhaust pipe 42 into which the
gas subjected to heat exchange to be cooled by the spiral heat
exchanger 30 is sent may be coupled to the outer peripheral portion
of the case member 32. In a specific but non-limiting example
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the exhaust pipe 42 may be coupled to
a lower portion of the outer peripheral portion of the case member
32.
The bracket 33 is fixed to the case member 32, and holds the spiral
unit 31. The bracket 33 may be a member directed to attachment of
the spiral unit 31 to the case member 32.
The bracket 33 includes a holding portion 331 and a fixed portion
332. The holding portion 331 holds a front end, a rear end, or both
of the spiral unit 31 in the axial direction of the spiral unit 31.
The fixed portion 332 is disposed between an outer peripheral
surface of the spiral unit 31 and an inner peripheral surface of
the case member 32 and is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of
the case member 32. In this example, the outer peripheral surface
of the spiral unit 31 described above may refer to an outer
peripheral surface of a portion corresponding to the outermost
layer of the layers of the thin metal plates in the spiral unit
31.
A material included in the bracket 33 is not particularly limited;
however, the bracket 33 may include a material such as stainless
steel or aluminum, for example.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, two or more brackets 33 may be so
disposed as to be spaced away from each other in the
circumferential direction of the spiral unit 31 in the spiral heat
exchanger 30. FIG. 3 illustrates an example where three brackets 33
are disposed with the same spacing in between in the
circumferential direction of the spiral unit 31; however, the
number and the positions of the brackets 33 in the spiral heat
exchanger 30 are not particularly limited to those in the example
illustrated in FIG. 3. In one example embodiment, two or more
brackets 33 may be so disposed as to be spaced away from each other
in the circumferential direction of the spiral unit 31 as described
above, in view of more appropriately holding the spiral unit 31 to
thereby keep the spiral unit 31 in the desired shape.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, in more detail, the fixed portion 332 may
extend in the axial direction of the spiral unit 31 from first side
to second side of the spiral unit 31 in the axial direction. In a
specific but non-limiting example, the fixed portion 332 may extend
in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1 from the front side of
the vehicle 1 to the rear side of the vehicle 1. As will be
described later, the holding portion 331 may be coupled to each of
the front end and the rear end of the fixed portion 332. In a
specific but non-limiting example, the front end of the fixed
portion 332 may be coupled to a first holding portion 331a and the
rear end of the fixed portion 332 may be coupled to a second
holding portion 331b.
The fixed portion 332 may be fixed to the inner peripheral surface
of the case member 32, for example, by welding. In the non-limiting
example illustrated in FIG. 2, a front portion 332a, a middle
portion 332b, and a rear portion 332c of the fixed portion 332 may
be in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the case member
32 and may be welded to the inner peripheral surface of the case
member 32.
It is to be noted that the fixed portion 332 may be fixed to the
inner peripheral surface of the case member 32 by any method other
than welding. In the non-limiting example illustrated in FIG. 2,
the three portions of the fixed portion 332 spaced away from each
other may be fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the case
member 32; however, it is sufficient that at least one portion of
the fixed portion 332 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of
the case member 32. In one example, the entire region of the fixed
portion 332 in the front-rear direction may be fixed to the inner
peripheral surface of the case member 32.
In view of appropriately protecting the spiral unit 31 from an
impact applied to the case member 32 from outside, the fixed
portion 332 may be spaced away from the outer peripheral surface of
the spiral unit 31 in one example embodiment, as illustrated in
FIG. 2. The above-described impact may be caused by an object such
as a stone coming into contact with the case member 32, for
example. In a specific but non-limiting example, the entire region
of the fixed portion 332 in the front-rear direction may be spaced
away from the outer peripheral surface of the spiral unit 31.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, in more detail, the holding portion 331
may include a first holding portion 331a and a second holding
portion 331b. The first holding portion 331a may hold the front end
of the spiral unit 31. The second holding portion 331b may hold the
rear end of the spiral unit 31.
The first holding portion 331a may extend from a front end of the
fixed portion 332 toward inner side of the case member 32. The
front end of the spiral unit 31 may be fixed to a rear surface of
the first holding portion 331a, for example, by welding. The front
end of the spiral unit 31 may be thereby held by the first holding
portion 331a.
The second holding portion 331b may extend from a rear end of the
fixed portion 332 toward the inner side of the case member 32. The
rear end of the spiral unit 31 may be fixed to a front surface of
the second holding portion 331b, for example, by welding. The rear
end of the spiral unit 31 may be thereby held by the second holding
portion 331b.
In view of more appropriately holding the spiral unit 31 to keep
the spiral unit 31 in the desired shape, the first holding portion
331a and the second holding portion 331b may hold each of the
layers of the thin metal plate 311 and the thin metal plate 312 of
the spiral unit 31, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, in one example
embodiment.
In a specific but non-limiting example, the first holding portion
331a may extend from the front end of the fixed portion 332 to
inner side of a portion corresponding to the innermost layer of the
thin metal plates in the spiral unit 31, and the second holding
portion 331b may extend from the rear end of the fixed portion 332
to the inner side of the portion corresponding to the innermost
layer of the thin metal plates in the spiral unit 31. Each of the
layers of the thin metal plate 311 and the thin metal plate 312 may
be fixed to both the first holding portion 331a and the second
holding portion 331b, for example, by welding. Each of the layers
of the thin metal plate 311 and the thin metal plate 312 may be
thereby held by the first holding portion 331a and the second
holding portion 331b.
The description above refers to an example where the welding of the
end of the spiral unit 31 to the holding portion 331 allows the
holding portion 331 to hold the end of the spiral unit 31; however,
the holding portion 331 may be allowed to hold the end of the
spiral unit 31 by any other method. For example, the holding
portion 331 may have a slit and the end of the spiral unit 31 may
be inserted in the slit to be sandwiched by the holding portion
331. The holding portion 331 may be thereby allowed to hold the end
of the spiral unit 31.
In the non-limiting example illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the both
ends of the spiral unit 31 in the axial direction may be held by
the holding portion 331, more specifically, by the first holding
portion 331a and the second holding portion 331b; however, it is
sufficient that the holding portion 331 holds the first end, the
second end, or both of the spiral unit 31 in the axial direction as
described above. Therefore, for example, the first holding portion
331a or the second holding portion 331b may be omitted from the
configuration of the holding portion 331. In view of more
appropriately holding the spiral unit 31 to keep the spiral unit 31
in the desired shape, however, the holding portion 331 may include
the first holding portion 331a and the second holding portion 331b
that hold the respective ends of the spiral unit 31 in the axial
direction in one example embodiment.
The spiral heat exchanger 30 described above may perform heat
exchange between fluids. For example, the spiral heat exchanger 30
in the vehicle 1 may be provided to cool the gas exhausted from the
turbine engine 20 by means of heat exchange, as described above. A
description is given now below of a behavior of the gas in the
spiral heat exchanger 30.
In FIGS. 2 and 3, the thick arrow schematically illustrates the
flow of the high-temperature gas sent from the turbine engine 20.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the high-temperature gas that is
exhausted from the turbine engine 20 and passes through the exhaust
pipe 42 may be first sent to the inner side of the spiral unit 31.
In one specific but non-limiting example, the above-described
high-temperature gas may be sent to the inner side of the portion
corresponding to the innermost layer of the thin metal plates in
the spiral unit 31. Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the gas
sent to the inner side of the spiral unit 31 may pass through
inside of the flow path 52 in the circumferential direction to flow
outward. At this time, heat exchange occurs between the gas flowing
in the flow path 52 and the coolant flowing in the flow path 51
adjacent to the flow path 52. Heat of the gas is thereby absorbed
by the coolant and the gas is therefore cooled. As illustrated in
FIGS. 2 and 3, the cooled gas that has passed through the flow path
52 may be sent to the exhaust pipe 42.
A dimension of the spiral unit 31 may greatly influence a heat
exchange performance of the spiral heat exchanger 30. Therefore,
for example, appropriately setting the width L2 of the flow path 52
in which the gas flows may provide the spiral heat exchanger 30
with a desired heat exchange performance. Accordingly, in a case
where the shape of the spiral unit 31 deviates from the desired
shape, e.g., a designed shape, a sufficient heat exchange
performance may not be provided to the spiral heat exchanger 30 in
some cases. For example, it may be difficult to provide the spiral
heat exchanger 30 with a sufficient heat exchange performance as a
result of that the width L2 of the flow path 52 in which the gas
flows is excessively narrowed in a local portion.
As described above, the bracket 33 of the spiral heat exchanger 30
includes the holding portion 331 and the fixed portion 332. The
holding portion 331 holds the first end, the second end, or both of
the spiral unit 31 in the axial direction of the spiral direction.
The fixed portion 332 is disposed between the outer peripheral
surface of the spiral unit 31 and the inner peripheral surface of
the case member 32 and is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of
the case member 32. Therefore, causing the holding portion 331 to
hold the first end, the second end, or both of the spiral unit 31
in the axial direction of the spiral unit 31 makes it possible to
keep the spiral unit 31 in the desired shape. Further, fixing the
fixed portion 332 to the inner peripheral surface of the case
member 32 between the outer peripheral surface of the spiral unit
31 and the inner peripheral surface of the case member 32 makes it
possible to attach the spiral unit 31 to the case member 32 while
efficiently using the space between the outer peripheral surface of
the spiral unit 31 and the inner peripheral surface of the case
member 32. As a result, it is possible to contain the spiral unit
31 in the case member 32 in a state of being kept in the desired
shape while suppressing an increase in size of the spiral heat
exchanger 30.
As described above, it is possible to protect, by means of the case
member 32, the spiral unit 31 from an impact applied from the
outside by containing, in the case member 32, the spiral unit 31
that includes the thin metal plates and is configured to cool the
fluid such as the gas exhausted from the turbine engine 20 of the
vehicle 1 by means of the coolant. For example, this makes it
possible to prevent the spiral unit 31 from being given a damage
such as a hole and to thereby suppress leakage of the coolant to
outside. It is also possible to appropriately secure the heat
exchange performance of the spiral heat exchanger 30 by keeping the
spiral unit 31 in the desired shape.
3. Example Effects of Spiral Heat Exchanger
A description is given next of example effects of the spiral heat
exchanger 30 according to the example embodiment.
The spiral heat exchanger 30 according to the example embodiment
includes the spiral unit 31. The spiral unit 31 includes two or
more thin metal plates, e.g., the thin metal plates 311 and 312.
The thin metal plates are spaced away from each other and spirally
wound. The thin metal plates define two or more flow paths. A
portion or all of the flow paths are provided with a coolant
flowing in the corresponding portion or all of the flow paths.
Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the weight of the vehicle 1
by using the thin metal plates as the metal plates included in the
spiral unit 31 that is configured to cool, with the use of the
coolant, the fluid such as the exhaust gas from the turbine engine
20 of the vehicle 1. The spiral heat exchanger 30 further includes
the case member 32 and the bracket 33. The case member 32 is
attached to the vehicle 1 and contains the spiral unit 31. The
bracket 33 is fixed to the case member 32 and holds the spiral unit
31. The bracket 33 includes the holding portion 331 and the fixed
portion 332. The holding portion 331 holds one or both of the ends
of the spiral unit 31 in the axial direction of the spiral unit 31.
In other words, the holding portion 331 holds the front end, the
rear end, or both of the spiral unit 31. The fixed portion 332 is
disposed between the outer peripheral surface of the spiral unit 31
and the inner peripheral surface of the case member 32, and is
fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the case member 32. This
allows the spiral unit 31 including the thin metal plates to be
contained in the case member 32 in a state of being kept in the
desired shape, while suppressing an increase in size of the spiral
heat exchanger 30. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the weight
of the vehicle 1, protect the spiral unit 31 from an impact applied
from the outside by means of the case member 32, and appropriately
secure the heat exchange performance of the spiral heat exchanger
30. As described above, according to the spiral heat exchanger 30
of the example embodiment of the technology, it is possible to
appropriately attach the spiral heat exchanger 30 to the vehicle 1
while reducing the weight of the vehicle 1.
According to one example embodiment, the holding portion 331 of the
bracket 33 of the spiral heat exchanger 30 may include the first
holding portion 331a and the second holding portion 331b. The first
holding portion 331a may hold one end of the spiral unit 31 in the
axial direction. The second holding portion 331b may hold the other
end of the spiral unit 31 in the axial direction. In a specific but
non-limiting example, the first holding portion 331a may hold the
front end of the spiral unit 31 in the axial direction, and the
second holding portion 331b may hold the rear end of the spiral
unit 31 in the axial direction. This allows each of the front and
rear ends of the spiral unit 31 to be held by the holding portion
331. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress deviation of the shape
of the spiral unit 31 from the desired shape such as a designed
shape in both of the front and rear ends of the spiral unit 31. As
a result, it is possible to more appropriately hold the spiral unit
31 to keep the spiral unit 31 in the desired shape.
According to one example embodiment, the fixed portion 332 of the
bracket 33 of the spiral heat exchanger 30 may extend in the axial
direction from the front end of the spiral unit 31 to the rear end
of the spiral unit 31. The first holding portion 331a may extend
from a first end, in the axial direction, of the fixed portion 332
toward inner side of the case member 32. The second holding portion
331b may extend from a second end, in the axial direction, of the
fixed portion 332 toward the inner side of the case member 32. This
allows the first holding portion 331a and the second holding
portion 331b that respectively hold the front and rear ends of the
spiral unit 31 in the axial direction to be appropriately disposed
while disposing the fixed portion 332 between the outer peripheral
surface of the spiral unit 31 and the inner peripheral surface of
the case member 32. As a result, it is possible to appropriately
secure the performance of the bracket 33 of holding the front and
rear ends of the spiral unit 31 in the axial direction while
suppressing an increase in size of the bracket 33.
According to one example embodiment, the fixed portion 332 of the
bracket 33 of the spiral heat exchanger 30 may be spaced away from
the outer peripheral surface of the spiral unit 31. This suppresses
direct transmission, to the spiral unit 31, of the impact applied
to the case member 32 from the outside. The impact applied to the
case member 32 from the outside may be, for example, an impact
applied by an object such as a stone coming into contact with the
case member 32. As a result, it is possible to appropriately
protect the spiral unit 31 from the impact applied to the case
member 32 from the outside.
According to one example embodiment, the holding portion 331 of the
bracket 33 of the spiral heat exchanger 30 may hold each of the
layers of the thin metal plate 311 and the thin metal plate 312 of
the spiral unit 31. This allows two or more portion at the end of
the spiral unit 31 that are spaced away from each other in the
radial direction of the spiral unit 31 to be held. As a result, it
is possible to more appropriately hold the spiral unit 31 to keep
the spiral unit 31 in the desired shape.
According to one example embodiment, the two or more brackets 33
may be spaced away from each other in a circumferential direction
of the spiral unit 31 in the spiral heat exchanger 30. This allows
the two or more portions at the end of the spiral unit 31 that are
spaced away from each other in the circumferential direction of the
spiral unit 31 to be held. As a result, it is possible to more
appropriately hold the spiral unit 31 to keep the spiral unit 31 in
the desired shape.
4. Conclusion
As described above, according to one example embodiment of the
technology, the spiral heat exchanger 30 includes the spiral unit
31, the case member 32, and the bracket 33. The spiral unit 31
includes two or more thin metal plates, e.g., the thin metal plates
311 and 312. The thin metal plates are spaced away from each other
and spirally wound. The thin metal plates define two or more flow
paths. A portion or all of the flow paths are provided with a
coolant flowing in the corresponding portion or all of the flow
paths. The bracket 33 is fixed to the case member 32 and holds the
spiral unit 31. The bracket 33 includes the holding portion 331 and
the fixed portion 332. The holding portion 331 holds the first end,
the second end, or both of the spiral unit 31 in the axial
direction of the spiral unit 31. The fixed portion 332 is disposed
between the outer peripheral surface of the spiral unit 31 and the
inner peripheral surface of the case member 32. The fixed portion
332 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the case member 32.
This allows the spiral unit 31 to be contained in the case member
32 in a state of being kept in the desired shape, while suppressing
an increase in size of the spiral heat exchanger 30. The spiral
unit 31 includes the thin metal plates and is configured to cool,
by means of the coolant, the fluid such as the exhaust gas from the
turbine engine 20 of the vehicle 1. As a result, it is possible to
appropriately attach the spiral heat exchanger 30 to the vehicle 1
while reducing the weight of the vehicle 1.
Although some example embodiments of the technology have been
described in the foregoing by way of example with reference to the
accompanying drawings, the technology is by no means limited to the
example embodiments described above. As it is clear that a person
with an ordinary knowledge in the technical filed of the technology
can arrive at various modifications and applications within the
technical idea described in the appended claims, it should be
appreciated that such modifications and applications are clearly
encompassed in the technical scope of the technology.
For example, the vehicle 1 has been described above referring to
FIG. 1 as an example of the vehicle on which the spiral heat
exchanger 30 is to be mounted; however, the configuration of the
vehicle on which the spiral heat exchanger of one embodiment of the
technology is to be mounted is not particularly limited thereto.
For example, the vehicle on which the spiral heat exchanger
according to one embodiment of the technology is to be mounted may
be a vehicle with a portion of the components of the vehicle 1
omitted, a vehicle with some components added to the components of
the vehicle 1, or a vehicle with the altered arrangement of the
components of the vehicle 1. Moreover, as described above, the
spiral heat exchanger according to one embodiment of the technology
may be used to cool any gas other than the exhaust gas from the
turbine engine 20. For example, the spiral heat exchanger according
to one embodiment of the technology may be coupled to an exhaust
pipe in which an exhaust gas from a gasoline engine flows in a
vehicle mounted with the gasoline engine.
Moreover, the spiral unit 31 has been described above that includes
two thin metal plates and the two thin metal plates define the two
flow paths; however, the spiral unit according to one embodiment of
the technology may include three or more thin metal plates. In this
case, three or more flow paths may be provided in the spiral unit,
which allows for heat exchange between three or more fluids.
Moreover, for example, the spiral heat exchanger 30 has been
described above referring to FIGS. 2 and 3; however, the example
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 are mere example and the shape of each
of the components including the spiral unit, the case member, and
the bracket of the spiral heat exchanger according to one
embodiment of the technology is not particularly limited to that in
the example described above.
* * * * *